Combing means and method of making and using same



I April 1953 v R. FEYRGUSON 2,633,606

COMBING MEANS AND METHOD OF MAKING AND USING SAME Filed March 22, 1951 Fig.1

4 TTOAIYE/S.

Patented Apr. 7, 1953 COMBING MEANS AND METHOD OF MAKING AND USING SAME Richard Ferguson, Charlotte, N. 0., assignor to The Terrell Machine Company, a corporation of North Carolina Application March-22, 1951, Serial No. 216,911

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improved means for combing textile fibers and to the method of forming and using this combing means.

The combing of textile fibers according to long established practice'consists essentially of alternately feeding the textile fibers in lap form and holdin the lap near its end, passing a combing segment through the lap end during each holding period, and detaching and piecing-up the thus combed lap end in tufts during each feeding period. The combing segment employed in this process is characteristically arranged for combing action on what is commonly referred to as a half-lap, and which comprises a body member having hubs on which the half -lap may be mounted for rotation during the combing operation, and formed with an arcuate mounting surface on which the combing segment may be carried to pass through the lap end as the half-lap is retated. The conventional form of these combing segments consists of a series of needle bars that carry projecting needles and that are secured on the half-lap mounting surface to group the needles as a composite combing segment for action on the lap end of fibers being combed during a portion of each revolution of the half-lap, which portion is timed to correspond with the holding period mentioned above.

This action of the combing segment removes the shorter fibers from the lap end, which is the.

purpose of the combing operation, and these shorter fibers are retained by the combing segment as the half-lap continues to rotate during the feeding period mentioned above. In order to provide for freeing the combing segment as far as possible of these retained fibers, it is standard practice to dispose a rotating brush for sweeping the face of the combing segment as the half-lap moves through the feeding period. With the usua1 form of combing segment, however, the freeing of these retained fibers is hampered. because the fine needle spacing necessary to provide an effective combing action impedes and limits the clean combing elements, that allow much easier cleaning, are arranged to proyidc a combing action equally as good as that of a conventional combing segment, and in some respects even better. This combing segment is formed according to the present invention by inserting the combing elements in a unitary base member so that they project from one face of the base member in a coordinate pattern of regularly spaced rows ex--.

tending longitudinally and laterally thereof, and then securing the base member on the mounting surface of a half-lap with the spaced rows of combing elements angularly disposed with respect to the combing path of any individual combing element so that the gap between any such individual combing element and any laterally adjacent combing element is tracked b a plurality of the following combing elements.

This arrangement of the present invention results in providing the effect of very finely spaced needles with combing elements that are in fact coarse and widely spaced, as mentioned above, and are therefore adapted to receive a brush easily for cleaning. Also, the angular disposition of the spaced rows of combing elements arranges them in a staggered relation which forces the individual fibers to follow a sinuous path as they are combed, and. therefore to have contact with a substantially increased number of needles which puts a higher polish on the fibers than is obtained with conventional combing segments. In addition, a combing segment is provided that is characterized by an exceptionally simple construction which affords a substantially reduced first cost and reduced reneedling costs as well, while maintaining a combing quality as good or better than is possible with conventional constructions.

This improved combing means of the present invention, and the manner in which it is formed and used, are described in further detail below in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

' Fi 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a comber half-lap fitted with a combing segment in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

The comber half-lap shown in the drawings, as indicated generally by the reference numeral II], will be understood to comprise the usual type of body member l2 fitted with mounting hubs l4 and presenting an arcuate comb segment mounting surface'as at I6. This mounting surface It is arranged according to the present invention concentrlcally with the axis of rotation defined for the half-lap H] by the mounting hubs M as indicated at [8.

A combing segment embodying the present invention is illustrated in the drawings at 29, and, as shown, comprises a unitary base member 22 which may be covered with a facing 24, and. a plurality of combing elements 26 secured in and projecting from the base member 22 with a regular and relatively wide spacing in all directions, this spacingamounting at the least to more than twice the element side. The regular spacing of the combing elements 26 may also be identical or uniform in all directions as indicated in the drawings, and in any case should "bearrangedso that it is uniform in any one direction.

By the term "unitary used abovein describing the base member 22, it is meant that this base member serves as a matrix so to speak for the combing elements 23 collectively so that the arrangement and spacing of the elements "25 is determined essentially by the manner in which they are secured or embedded in the base member ,22, as distinguished from the Lusual manner of spacing the needles .in a conventional half-lap on a composite assembly of .needle bars. .There are advantages from the standpoint of facilitating installation in proportioning the'base member 22 .so that it is unitary too in the sense that it extends continuously over the arcuate mounting surface 1.6 as indicated in the drawings, although it could be equally desirable to arrange the base member 22 sectionally as in aseries of peripherally extending strips .(not shown) in order to providefor replacing-suchsecticns selectively where, for example, the conditions of use made the replacement of locally worn portions of the combing segment a particularly problem, and the term unitary is used to include .such alternative and equivalent arrangements.

The combing segment 2!) maybe fastened on the half-lap mounting surface is in any convenient manner as by machine screws or the like such as are represented by dotted lines .at 28, and which maybe Supplemented oreven replaced if desired with binding wires or the like .(not shown) extended peripherally over the base member .22 between the combing elements 26 and fastened to .the half-lap body member i2 so as in effect to strap the combing segment 28 on the arcuate mounting surface It.

The combing segment base member 22 is suitably formed of a woven fabric material .of the type commonly .used in the manufacture of card clothing, and which is readily flexible for .conforming with an .arcnate surface such as the halflap mounting surface 15. The combing elements 26 may likewise be formed of Wire-like material in the nature of card teeth, but the resulting combing segment 28 of the present invention is arranged differently from both card clothing on the one hand and the conventional form of combing segment on the other.

The combing elements 216, for example, are inserted in the base member 22 so that the portion projecting above the base member .22 is essentially straight so as to avoid 'bunching of the fibers by the combing elements 26.. In Fig. 2 of the drawings, the combin elements 25 are shown as having a kneed form. It will be noted, however, that the knee portion is regularly disposed substantially at the surface of the base member 22 or its cover facing 2 so that the essentially straight projection of the combing elements 2% is maintained.

Also, the combing elements 26 are inclined or pitched forwardly in the direction of combin movement to an extent that is greater than usual,

or in fact possible, in a conventional half-lap. According to the present invention the combing elements 26 are inclined forwardly at a pitch angle 10 of about 50 (i. e., about 40 from radial), which serves to pull the lap and down in the combing segment and hold it there for thorough combing. If acomparable pitch were used in a conventional combing segment it would not only be extremely diflicult in the first place to form the needle bars with sufficient strength to carry the needles, but also the rate of loading would be increased so greatly that the segment could not'practicably be operated. The widely spaced combing .elements .26 of the present invention.

however, being readily arranged in the base member 22 at any pitch desired, and being easily subject to cleaning with a brush so that they are less subject'to loading, may accordingly employ-agreater and more advantageous pitch.

In addition, the characteristic ease of cleaning provided asa result of the wide spacing employed according to the present invention for the comb ing elements .25 may .be further enhanced by limiting the projecting height of the combing elements 26 above the surface of the base members 22 so that the comber cleaning brush may readily reach their roots, and by investing the base member '22 with a. smooth, lint-shedding facing 24. .As to the projecting height of the combing elements .23, I have .found that if this height, measured perpendicularly or radially as at h in Fig. 2, limited to not more than about fi; inch, very satisfactory brush penetration for cleaning of the combing segment 20 can be obtained, whereas there is a substantial progressive decrease in "the effectiveness of the brush action,

as the combing element .height h is allowed to exceed this limit. Also, where particular circumstances such as the Weight of the lap being combed will allow this height h to be lowered to or inch, the cleaning advantage can even further substantially increased. The use of a cover facing '24 serves to condition the base member 22 against lint gathering and thereby increases the effectiveness of the cleanin brush. Any of agreat variety of plastic or rubber facing materials are available for this purpose if desired.

The manner of arranging the combing segment 26 so that a fine combing action may be obtained despite the Wide spacing of the combing elements 26 consists, .as mentioned briefly above, in disposing the combing elements 26 .in a coordinate pattern of regularly spacedrows extending laterally and longitudinally (or peripherally) over the surface of the base .member 22, and in angling these spaced rows sufficiently with respect to the combing path of any individual combing element so that the lateral gaps between the widely spaced combing elements 28 are tracked by a plurality of following combing elements. Over the entire surface of the combing segment 12!], this arrangement results in a pro gressively repeating pattern wherein each combing element '26 in each peripheral row is followed by a plurality of successive combing elements in the same row that are positioned to track the lateral gap between .each such element and the corresponding combing element in an adjacent row .(i. a, the gap between each such combing element of a given peripheral row and the comb-- Only a angularity used may be varied somewhat as'desired in a given instance. In the usual, case I have found that this angularity should-be such as to form an angle a (see Fig. l) of the order of between the direction of combing movement, or the combing path, of any individual combing element 26 and the peripheral rows of the coordinate row pattern. The previously mentioned sinuous path which this arrangement of the combing elements 25 forces the fibers being combed to follow is illustrated exemplary at? in Fig. 1. V

The present invention has been described in detail above for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to be limited by this description or otherwise except as definedin the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for combing textile fibers, combing means comprising a rotatable body member, a unitary base member mounted thereon, and a plurality of combing elements secured in and projecting from said base member, said combing elements being arranged in regularly and relatively widely spaced peripheral rows oriented with an singularity in relation to the combing path of any individual combing element such that the gaps between corresponding combing elements in adjacent rows are tracked by a plurality of the combing elements following successively in one of said adjacent rows and having relatively closely spaced combing paths when the body member is rotated.

2. In a machine for combing textile fibers, a combing segment comprising a unitary base member, and a plurality of relatively coarse combing elements secured in and projecting from said base member, said combing elements being arranged in said base member in regularly and relatively widely spaced peripheral rows, and said. base member being oriented with an angularity in relation to the combing path of any individual combing element such that the combing elements in each row are disposed in a progressively repeating pattern wherein the gaps between each combing element in said row and the corresponding combing elements of an adjacent row are tracked by a plurality of the combing elements following successively in said row, and whereby a fine combing action may be obtained efiectively with said coarse and widely spaced combing elements.

3. In a machine for combing textile fibers, an arcuate combing segment comprising a unitary base member, and a plurality of combing ele ments secured in and projecting from said base member, all of said combing elements being of uniform size and being regularly and relatively Widely spaced in all directions to form a coordinate pattern of peripheral and lateral rows of said combing elements over the surface of said base member, and said spaced rows of combing elements being angularly disposed with respect to the combing path of any individual combing element at a degree such that the gap between any such individual combing element and any laterally adjacent combing element is tracked by a plurality of following combing elements having relatively closely spaced combing paths in a pattern that is repeated in each following peripheral row, whereby a fine combing action may be obtained effectively with said widely spaced and uniformly sized combing elements.

4. In a machine for combing textile fibers, a combing segment as defined in claim 3 and further characterized in that said spaced rows of combing elements are'angularlydisposed at a degree such that the peripheral rows thereof form an angle of the'order of 10 with the combing path of any individual combing element.

5. In a machine-for combing textile fibers, a combing segment as defined in claim 3 and further characterized in that said combing elements are spaced at a distance between elements of more than twice the element size.

6. In a machine for combing textile fibers, a combing segment as defined in claim 3 and further characterized in that the portion of said combing elements projecting from said base member is essentially straight and does not extend radially more than about 1% inch above the face of said base member.

7. In a machine for combing textile fibers, a combing segment as defined in claim 3 and further characterized in that the portion of said combing elements projecting from said base member is inclined forwardly in the direction of combing movement at an angle of about 40 from radial. j

8. In a machinefor combing textile fibers, a combingsegment as defined'in claim 3 and further characterizedin that said base member is invested with a smooth, lint-shedding facing, and the portion of said combing elements projecting from said base member being essentially straight and having a height measured radially above the face of said base member of from about inch to not more than about inch.

9. In a machine for combing textile fibers, a combing means comprising a rotatable half-lap body member, and an arcuate combing segment mounted on said body member concentrically with the axis thereof, said combing segment having a unitary base member and being formed with a plurality of combing elements secured in and projecting from said base member, said combing elements being regularly spaced in all directions ver the surface of said base member in a coordinate pattern of rows extending peripherally and laterally thereof, and said base member being oriented angularly with respect to the combing path of any individual combing element so that said peripheral rows are disposed at an angle of the order of 10 from said combing path.

10. A combing means adapted for mounting on a comber half-lap to form the combing segment thereof, said combing means comprising a flexible, unitary base member, and a plurality of combing elements secured in and projecting from said base member, said combing elements being regularly spaced in all directions over the surface of said base member in a coordinate pattern of rows that extend generally longitudinally and laterally thereof, and said base memher being arranged for angular mounting to form said combing segment so that said longitudinal rows of combing elements are angularly disposed with respect to the combing path of any individual combing element at an angle of about 10.

11. A combing means adapted for mounting on a comber half-lap to form the combing segment thereof, said combing means comprising a flexible, unitary base member, and a plurality of combing elements secured in and projecting from said base member, said combing elements being of uniform size and being regularly and relatively widely spaced in all directions over the surface of said base member in a coordinate pattern of rows that extend generally longitudinally and laterally thereof, said base member being arranged for mounting to form said combing segment with said longitudinal and lateral rows disposed angularly in relation to the combing path of any individual combing element of said segment so that the lateral gaps between corresponding combing elements in adjacent longitudinal rows are tracked by a plurality of the combing elements following in one of said adjacent rows and having relatively closely spaced combing paths, and the portion of each of said combing elements projecting from said base member being essentially straight, being inclined uniformly in one direction at an angle of about 40 from radial when disposd to form said combing segment, and the projecting height of said combing elements measured radially above said base member when disposed to form said combing segment being not more than about 1 inch.

12. In a machine for combing textile fibers, combing means comprising a rotatable body member, a unitary base member mounted thereon, and a plurality of combing elements secured in and projecting from said base member, said combing elements being arranged in said base member in regularly and relatively widely spaced peripheral rows and said base member being oriented with an angularity in relation to the combing path of any individual combing element such that the gaps between corresponding combing elements in adjacent rows are tracked by a. plurality of the combing elements following successively in one of said adjacent rows when the body member is rotated, and the portion of said combing elements projecting from said base member being essentially straight and having a height measured radially above the face of said base member of from about inch to not more than about inch.

RICHARD FERGUSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file or this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,905,336 Blanchard Apr. 25, 1933 1,943,707 Walker Jan. 16, 1934 2,488,442 Snape Nov. 15, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 144,425 Great Britain June 17, 1920 

